Magnolia

There are certain films and shows that resonate with audienceseverywhere--they generate discussion and debate abouteverything from gender, class, citizenship and race, to consumerismand social identity. This new 'teachable canon' of film andtelevision introduces students to alternative classics that rangefrom silent film to CSI.* Magnolia is one of those films students know and love. From theover-the-top performances by male and female leads to the "rippedfrom the pages of the Old Testament" conclusion, it is a cultfavorite in American cinema* This is the first book to examine the diverse themes,performances, and influences on this polarizing film, encouragingstudents to look beyond the film's style in order to fully engagewith questions about its substance* Lane develops a careful analysis of the film, its director, aswell as the contemporary context in which it was produced -exploring topics including the role of the auteur, what constitutescinema / media literacy in the digital age, the politics ofpostmodernism, and the film's critique of the mass media - in orderto challenge students to ask themselves why they are so riveted bythis controversial and unusual film

List of Figures.Acknowledgments.Introduction.1 Magnolia at the Millennium: Historical and SocialContexts.2 Through the Viewfi nder of a Cinematic "Son": Reflexivity,Intertextuality, and "Smart Cinema".3 An Aesthetics of Contradiction: Cinematic Style andTelevisuality.4 Sound and Voice: De-Centering Meaning.5 Redemption and Re-Mediation: Framing the Deathbed.Notes.Bibliography.Index.